Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which met in Jeddah on 18 and 19 June and at which Australian diplomatic representatives were present. Did the council note recent comments by Senator Brandis on the Middle East, call on the Australian government to respect its commitments under international law and ask member states to respond by taking necessary measures against Australia?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will take the question on notice.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Could the necessary measures urged by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation include trade sanctions? How much will Senator Brandis's intellectual arrogance cost Australian farmers?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the question poses a hypothetical proposition. There is no evidence that that hypothesis is the reality, and therefore I do not think I can assist the senator any further.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that his newfound and unprecedented reticence to speak is as a result of the Minister for Foreign Affairs having gagged him from making further comments on the Middle East and other matters?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. In fact, when I made a statement at Senate estimates on 5 June the statement I made was authorised by the foreign minister and is completely consistent with what the foreign minister has said before and since the matter.